David Kettlewell…The Renaissance Man of Chromatic Harmonica

David Kettlewell…the Renaissance Man Of Chromatic Harmonica

David Kettlewell has been a prolific producer of innovative concepts since his entry to the world of chromatic harmonica in 2012.

He is the author of the first detailed 678 page METHOD book on chromatic harmonica, LOVE OF CHROMATIC HARMONICA…TECHNIQUES AND ADVICE FROM THE WORLD’S BEST! He has created over 240 free videos available on YouTube, many which are series on Breath, Vibrato, and Bends. He is the inventor of the Kettlewell Frictionless Mouthpiece which ends the need for saliva to lubricate the interface of lips to harmonica mouthpiece, creator of 10 Facebook Groups including LOVE OF CHROMATIC HARMONICA, and inventor of Multi-Dimensional music with Italian composer Andrea Antonello Nacci, and inventor of the art form of improvised story over improvised music.

He has been the subject of 2 PBS TV productions, one a half hour show on chromatic harmonica, and one which focuses on his work with Italian composer Andrea Antonello Nacci.

Said Nacci, “David’s technical method for the instrument, as defined in his book and videos, set the pattern for the coming century of music. His frictionless mouthpiece will change the instrument for the better in the same way the pianoforte replaced harpsichord or the chin reset of Yehudi Menuhin changed violin, making it easier to play the instrument and opening new styles of. His ideas are bringing change to the chromatic harmonica world. I feel he’s one of the finest musicians in the world today with an understanding of music and sound which is extraordinary, truly extraordinary.”

But David’s reception by the chromatic harmonica community in America has been anything but single-sided, as controversy does exist relating to his skills and his contributions to the instrument. He has been called a musical fraud by some, and imposter with no true musical skills who is destroying the history of the instrument, and leading the chromatic harmonica world astray.

One harmonica forum suggested David created the character of Italian composer Andrea Antonello Nacci to further his own fame, and has since banned any discussion of Mr. Kettlewell on their pages. Kettlewell is controversial in the extreme.

Said Nacci, “I laugh when I read much of what is written about David Kettlewell. I assure you I am not a fiction in David’s mind…I reached out to him from Italy because of his unequalled skills on the instrument; he does things others cannot, or have never conceived in their mind in the first place. David is one of the great musical talents in chromatic harmonica history, and that’s why I selected him to improvise on my music and invited him to come and perform with me in Europe. But it’s true he is ahead of his time…by over a century.”

That Kettlewell has made his mark is not in question…his website MASTERSOFHARMONICA.COM is the top ranked by Google under the search words Chromatic Harmonica, of the 10 Facebook groups he’s created on chromatic harmonica, Facebook ranks 7 in the top 10 in the world, and Kettlewell’s LOVE OF CHROMATIC HARMONICA Facebook Group is the top ranked in the world by Facebook. On Youtube his videos represent about 13% of the top 40 videos, and his videos dominate that venue as well.

Kettlewell has not spoken much about his work, or responded to his critics. He has granted few interviews and is an intensely private man. He has been called eccentric…in the extreme.

And yet there is a part of him which reaches out to others in a very personal way. It is not uncommon for him to gift his harmonicas to talented players, or to call his Facebook friends to learn of their progress on the instrument.

Philosophy…David speaks a lot about LOVE of music, LOVE in general, the need to put the human ego aside, the total lack of validity of fame-except as a tool to serve others, his personal stance against use of drugs by artists, the need to treat the body as a holy musical instrument and the need for each person to serve others to remain connected to the universe.

He is revered in India, and considered a fine musician and spiritual person of consequence.

Kettlewell’s mantra on life is as follows…

“WHEN THE UNIVERSE OFFERS YOU A CHANCE TO HELP ANOTHER…TAKE IT, AND GIVE WITHOUT THOUGHT OF RETURN. WHEN YOU ARE OFFERED HELP,-ACCEPT IT. FOR LIFE IS A CIRCLE.”

David Kettlewell

He says that it is only by following that path that the Universe can act fully in a person’s life, and that giving and receiving are actually two sides of the same hand.

On his work with composer Nacci, Kettlewell has been very communicative.

Said Kettlewell, “My greatest joy has been my work with Italian composer Andrea Antonello Nacci. I improvise on his music, I find his music has more holes or opportunities for improvisation than any music I’ve encountered. It is magical…it is sublime. He is a musical genius.”

Kettlewell continued, “Our Multi-Dimensional music is a fabulous journey into the unknown. Andrea lays one track of sound over another, creating a matrix of sound which challenges the improvisational artist in ways which have not been seen or experienced before. His concoctions in Multi-Dimensional music often include various tracks, one laid over the other, all of his own creation, running front to back and back to front, broken by start time, or pitch altered tracks overlaid on on another. All this requires the improvisational artist to think, or better put, SENSE music in new ways and the experience of playing to his Multi-Dimensional music changes the artist fundamentally.”

The only description Kettlewell has offered on his work with Nacci is that he merely dances on Nacci’s stage, and in fact Kettlewell was a champion figure skater known for innovative choreography, and dancer in his younger days.

Kettlewell is an author of many books and former news correspondent, and produced and hosted over 230 television shows, and 400 radio programs.

Kettlewell and Nacci are now planning their European and Asian show, THE LIGHTER SIDE OF DARK which is a journey into improvisation involving music, drama, and dance.

Said Kettlewell, “lmprovisation is valid for all persons and important for all persons because it reminds us that the wonderment of life and unlimited potential of the moment are there for all, if we will open ourselves to it.”

Kettlewell’s response to his critics is unique, “Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, and I respect that. Life is bigger than our own perceptions. Always.”

(Photo: by artist James Vaughan, Jamesvaughanphoto.com, Kettlewell in contemplative mood.)